capitalism English · revision 10730

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1833|origins=en capital}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkæp.ɪ.təl.ɪ.zəm/, US /ˈkæp.ə.t̬əl.ɪ.zəm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[capital]], wealth, and [[-ism]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The condition of having capital: 1854 in Etymonline and the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster gives 1833.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “a political and economic system that favours capitalists” is recorded from 1872, first used disparagingly by socialists.^(Etymonline) The concentration of capital in a few hands, or the power of large capital, is from 1877.^(Etymonline) J. L. Garvin wrote in the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1929) that there is no satisfactory definition of the term, though nothing is more evident than the thing.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1833 – capitalism.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1854 – the possession of capital.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1872 – the economic system.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1877 – the power of large capital.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[economic]] system in which trade, industry and the means of production are owned privately and run for [[profit]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[anticapitalism]]

+ * [[procapitalism]]

+ * [[state capitalism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[capital]]

+ * [[capitalist]]

+ * [[capitalistic]]

+ * [[socialism]]

+ * [[communism]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}